Toy



March 1, 1949. E'. G. BUCHMANN 2,463,355

TOY

Filed March 10, 1948 2 Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR EDWARD G.BUGHMANN s v 25: 2; z

I ATTORNEYS March 1, 1949. E. .G. BUCHRMANN 2,463,355

TOY Filed March 10, 1948 Q 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I EDWARD G. 'BUCHMANN ATTORNEYS INVENTOR Patented Mar. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOY Edward G. iBuchmann, Chicago, 111.

Application March 10, 1948, Serial'No. 14,130

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to toys comprising figures made up of segmentally articulated members in the nature of puppets and marionettes in which the members are held together by internal lacings or cords in such manner that the attitudes of the figures can be varied according to changes in the tension on the lacings. Such devices are to some extent known in .the art, with various devices applying tension to the lacings.

The main objects of the present invention are to provide'improved means for manipulating -the attitudes of the figure whereby thertension is applied to the lacings by compression spring means of such nature that the operator will have better control of the movements of various parts ofthe figure that are controlled by difi'erent lacings; to provide an improved spring structure for this purpose whereby this control is effected by a single spring; and to provide a spring for this purpose which has varying degrees of resistance to longitudinal compression and varying'degrees of flexibility alon different longitudinal lines about its axis.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toy of this kind in which there is a'plurality of figures Whose movements are individually and severally controlled in relation to'one another by means of a single operating member.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view-of a toy of the general type to which this invention relates.

Fig. '2 is. a partly sectional elevation ofthe same withparts in section to show the interior construction, the-section'of the base being taken on I the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top view of ahollow shell structure made of resiliently flexible material, such as rubher, that serves as the tensioning spring for the lacing elements and as the main operating element for manipulating the figures of the toy.

Fig. 4 is a section of the same taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is'a section'of the sametaken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a modified form of spring structure; and

Fig. '7 is a further modified form of spring structure.

In the form shown in the drawings, the particular form of each figure, puppet or marionette is to be understood to be merely typical and illustrative of the application of the invention to manipulatable figures of almost any form that might suit the fancy of the manufacturer.

.and then connected to the spring 10, whichis arranged toapply tension on the individual lacings and to be manipulated to vary such tension to change theattitudes of the figure A.

The second figure B might be similarly articulated but in the form shown is merely a body I I 'representing'a mouse or rodent, that is pushed partly out of its hole 12 by a compression spring l3 and has its internal lacin l4 extended through bores l2 and [5 in the base and connected to the spring l0.

Thespring I10 is preferably of frusto-conical form and .is housed within a large bore l6 extending, upwardly from the bottom of the base.

The smaller end I! of the spring is seated in a recess l8 at the upper end of the bore l6 and the lacings 6, LB, 9 and M are connected at spaced points around the periphery of the large end of the spring.

In the form shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5, the spring II) is a hollow shell of rubber having-walls of substantially uniform thickness, such as might be formed by dipping a core of appropriate shape intoa bath of latex and then vulcanizing it. The wall thickness is determined by repeated dippings into the liquid rubbeigas will be understood.

In its final form, the shell is symmetrical'with respect to its vertical axis and is corrugated in radial zones l9 corresponding to the points at which the cords 6, l, 8 and 9 are attached and uncorrugated along narrow longitudinal lines 2%. The corrugations -2l provide regions of longitudinal compression sensitivity'of the spring along radial planes passing through the points of attachment of the lacing cords 6, l, 8 and 9 and the uncorrugated areas 20' define longitudinal lines along which the spring is less sensitive to compression. This arrangement enables the operator to control the compression and fiexure of the spring in'suchmanner as to allow him to control the tension on the various lacing ele ments individually and severally in such manner as to control the movements and attitudes of the figure with a high degree of direction.

The lacing II is preferably connected to the large end of the spring at one of the lines 20 so that when the spring is compressed on the corspring flexes readily for local effects on individuallacing elements, but is less responsive to isolation of movement to a single lacing than is the rubber spring of Figs. 3 to 5. Several volute convolutions 24 at the large end of the spring are wound in a common plane and parts of the lacing cords are interwoven with these convolutions 24 to form an operating disc for manipulating the cords.

In operation, when the spring is compressed as a whole by an upward axial thrust, all of the lacings B, I, 8 and 9 will be relaxed and the figure A will collapse, The pull upon the lacing M will simultaneously draw figure B into its hole against the action of spring I3.

The operator may, however, localize the pressure of his finger or fingers upon marginal regions of the bottom of the spring I so as to relax any one or more of the lacings 6, I, 8 and 9 individually or in any combination thereof. The uncorrugated linear area 20 between the corrugated regions of the spring structure, offers sufiicient resistance to compression to localize the effect of marginal pressures on the bottom of the spring to permit quite accurate control of the movements of the figures.

However, when pressure is applied simultaneously to adjoining regions I 9 of the spring, the intermediate portion 20 of the spring flexes to avoid interference with the compression of the spring. By manipulation of the operating spring, the operator can effect many different movements of the figures.

It will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A toy structure, comprising a base, a figure made up of segmentally articulated members in abutting relation to one another, flexible lacing elements passing loosely through members of said figure to connect them together and to said base, a compression spring having one end bearing on said base and its other end connected at peripheral intervals to said lacing elements for normally applying tension thereto to hold said figure in a predetermined attitude, said spring being formed with radial zones offering various degrees of resistance to longitudinal compression of said spring at and between the points of its connection to said lacing elements to provide for substantial compression of the spring in individual zones independently of other zones for manipulating said figure through localized movement of said radial zones of said spring.

2. A toy structure, comprising a base, a figure made up of segmentally articulated members in abutting relation to one another, flexible lacing elements passing loosely through members of said figure to connect them together and to said base, a compression spring having one end bearin on said base and its other end connected at peripheral intervals to said lacing elements for normally applying tension thereto to hold said figure in a predetermined attitude, said spring being formed of rubber and shaped to provide radial zones ofl'ering various degrees of resistance to longitudinal compression of said spring at and between the points of its connection to said lacing elements to provide for substantial compression of the spring in individual zones independently of other zones for manipulating said figure through 10- calized movement of said radial zones of said spring,

3. A toy structure, comprising a figure made up of segmentally articulated members in abutting relation to one another, flexible lacing elements passing loosely through said members to connect them, a base supporting said figure, and a conoidal compression spring having its small end bearing on said base and having its large end directly attached at points on its periphery to said lacing elements for normally applying tension to said lacing elements to hold said figure in a predetermined attitude, said spring being adapted to be manipulated to cause said figure to change its attitudes through relative variation of the tension on individual lacing elements, said spring being longitudinally compressible and being formed to be less resistant to compression on longitudinal lines intermediate said points of attachment than on longitudinal lines passing through the points at which said lacing elements are attached.

4. A toy structure, comprising a figure made up of segmentally articulated members in abutting relation to one another, flexible lacing elements passing loosely through said members to connect them, a base supporting said figure, and a conoidal compression spring having its small end bearing on said base and having its large end directly attached at points on its periphery to said lacing elements for normally applying tension to said lacing elements to hold said figure in a predetermined attitude, said spring being adapted to be manipulated to cause said figure to change its attitudes through relative variation of the tension on individual lacing elements, said spring member comprising a hollow shell of rubber-like composition having its side walls longitudinally corrugated on lines passing through the points at which said lacing elements are attached and being stiffened on longitudinal lines intermediate of such points of attachment.

EDWARD G. BUCHMANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,062,129 Sweeney May 20, 1913 2,421,279 Marty May 27, 1947 

